BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Medaille College baseball team took on Chatham University Sunday afternoon for a non-conference double header. Despite the game being played at the Medaille Sports Complex, the Mavericks were the away team since the game was rescheduled from earlier this season. Both games were close but Medaille fell to the Cougars, 2-6 and 5-6.
GAME ONE
Derek Holtz (Akron, NY, Akron) got the offense going in the top of the first with a single but the Mavericks were unable to bring him home.
Samuel Beutler (Cheektowaga, NY, Depew) took the mound to get the Mavs started on defense. Despite giving up a single, the defense held strong with Beutler earning a strikeout for the final out of the inning. In the top of the second,
Tyler Siwek (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg) got on with a walk and stole second. Siwek advanced to third on a passed ball as
Patrick Gavigan (Orchard Park, NY, Orchard Park) also got on with a walk.
Alfredo Aponte (Rochester, NY, School of the Arts) reached first on an error but scored Siwek for the first run of the game.
Josh Wolski (Amherst, NY, Amherst) also reached first on an error while hitting in Aponte for the second run of the game. The Mavs continued to play well defensively ending the second inning up 2-0.
Holtz added another single in the top of the third but a fielder's choice and runner interference ended the Maverick momentum. The Cougars made the most of their opportunities at bat adding two singles and a double while scoring two runs. Three Mavericks flied out in the top of the third and the Cougars added two more runs from errors and a double. Chatham led 4-2 at the close of the fourth inning.
The Cougars loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with
Anthony DeJoseph (West Seneca, NY, West Seneca West) taking over reliever duties. The Mavs escaped with minimal damage only giving up one run.
Aaron Huddleston (Kenmore, NY, Kenmore East) added a single and
Nolan Gallagher (Hamilton, ON, Bishop Tonnos) ripped a single down the third base line to put runners in scoring position. The Cougars' defense kept the Mav at bay and held on to their three-run lead.
Chatham scored another run in the bottom of the sixth and despite a single from
Tre LaRue (Olean, NY, Olean), sealed a 6-2 victory over the Mavs.
Holtz led the Mavs going 2-4 with Huddleston going 1-3 and DeJoseph going 1-4. Aponte and Wolski both had RBI's with Siwek and Aponte each scoring a run. Gallagher also went 1-3 and Beutler received the loss throwing 4.2 innings giving up five hits, three earned runs, and struck out two.
GAME TWO
Holtz took the mound for Medaille to start the second game of the day. The defense for both teams held strong as the first inning remained scoreless. Chatham showcased some strong pitching as they downed the Mavericks on three straight batters in the top of the second. Medaille responded in similar fashion with three straight outs of their own. The score remained tied at zero going into the top of the third.
The pitching battle continued in the third as the Mavericks were unable to get on base. Despite having two outs, the Cougars strung together four singles which was good for three runs and a 3-0 lead. The Chatham lead would not last long as Holtz, Pokorski, and Huddleston all singled at the top of the fourth. Holtz scored from third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Siwek brought home Pokorski. Gallagher's RBI double brought home Huddleston, tying the game at three. Aponte added a single and Beutler came up big with a single up the middle to score Aponte and Gallagher. Medaille took a 5-3 lead going into the bottom half of the fourth.
Holtz and the Maverick defense made quick work of the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth allowing no runs to score, keeping their 5-3 lead. Pokorski led off with a single, but Chatham made the defensive plays needed to get out of the inning. The Mavericks kept their focus in the bottom of the fifth. Strong pitching from Holtz and great defensive play from DeJoseph kept Chatham off the scoreboard.
The Cougars took over the sixth inning by rallying for three runs to take a 6-5 lead over the Mavericks. Chatham hit three singles in the inning and capitalized on a few Maverick errors. The Mavs trailed by one run with their last at bats. Holtz walked with one out, but a ground out and then a strike out sealed the 6-5 win for Chatham.
Pokorski led the Mavericks going 2-4 with one run scored followed by Gallagher who went 1-3 with an RBI double and a run scored. Beutler went 1-3 with two RBI's and Holtz, Aponte, and Huddleston all went 1-3 with one run scored. Siwek also recorded an RBI from the sacrifice fly. Holtz threw all six innings giving up 11 hits, four earned runs, and struck out five batters.
The next game for the Mavericks will be on Tuesday, April 12 against Penn State Behrend. The first game will start at 1:00 P.M. with the second to follow shortly after.
